Gas-fire-lighting device.



C. G. VAIL.

GAS FIRE LIGHTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 11113.11, 1909.

Patented May 3, 1910.

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CHARLES C. VAIL, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

GAS-FIRE-LIGHTING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. VAIL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas -Fire- LightingDevices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of gas-fire lighting devices,and the objects of my invention are to provide simple, reliable andeffective means for igniting gas at a heater burner by the aid of anelectric spark or flame; to provide for this purpose an improvedconstruction of push button for closing the circuits through the primaryand secondary connections and to produce other improvements, the detailsof which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter.

These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of my improved current closingpush button, showing in connection therewith a diagrammatic view of theconnections between said push button and a gas heater burner. Fig. 2 isan underside view of the push button, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of thesame at right angles with that shown in Fig. 1, and, Fig. 1 is a planview of a portion of a gas heater burner showing my improved sparkingmeans in conjunction therewith.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a suitable form of button or plug1, the body of which is of suitable insulating or nonconductingmaterial. This button has formed centrally therethrough an opening 2,the lower end portion of which is reduced in size as indicated at 2*.Extending downward through this opening 2 is a push pin 3, the enlargedhead of which fits movably in said opening 2 and the lower end of whichmovably fits within the reduced portion 2 of said opening. This push'pin is normally elevated to the position shown in the drawing, throughthe medium of a coiled spring 4 which surrounds said pin between itshead and the shoulder formed by the reduction in the size of the opening2. The pin 3 is of metal or conducting material and connected with theupper portion thereof, is a lateral extending metallic contactSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 11, 1909.

Patented May 3, 1910. Serial No. 482,660.

arm 5 which normally projects through the upper portion of a verticalslotted opening 6 in the wall of the button 1. To opposite sides of thebutton 1 adjacent to the lower end thereof, I secure the correspondingends of two metallic contact strips 7 and 7 the latter being bentdownward and inward toward each other beneath the button 1, thedownturned separated ends of said strips being arranged beneath thelower end of the reduced portion 2 of the opening 2. On that side of thebutton which is provided with the slotted opening (3, I secure belowsaid slotted opening, one end of an outwardly thence upwardly bentcontact strip 8.

It will be understood that the button which is herein described may besuitably supported in or secured to a floor, wall or other framework ofa building at a convenient point therein. From the strip 7, leads a wire9 which connects with one pole of a battery 10, the remaining pole ofwhich is connected by a wire 11 with a connecting member 12 of oneterminal of the primary coil member of an induction or spark coilcontained in a coil box 13. The other terminal of said primary coil, isconnected as indicated at 1 1 with one end of a wire 15, which leads tothe button strip 7 16 and 17 represent respectively the terminals of thesecondary coil member of said spark coil, the terminal 16 beingconnected by a wire 18 with the primary wire 15 and the terminal 17being connected by a wire 19 with a gas conducting pipe 20. This gasconducting pipe leads in the usual manner to the mixer 21 of a suitableform of gas burner 22, which may be located in a grate, furnace, stoveor other suitable point, where it is employed for heating purposes.

The form of gas burner which I have used in the illustration, is theperforated cylindrical form which is commonly in use as a natural gasburner for grates. It is obvious, however, that other desirable forms ofmetallic burners may be employed. At a desirable point with relation tothe gas exits of the burner, I provide said burner with a platinum point23 and at a desirable distance from said point, is the terminal of awire 24; which leads to the button strip 8. In order to effect aconnection between the gas pipe 20 and the burner or its mixer, I bridgethe space between said parts with a short wire 25.

In operation the desired spark or electric flame is produced between theterminal of the wire 24 and the point 23 at the gas burner, for theignition of the gas escaping therefrom, by pressing inward on the pin 3.This movement of said pin, results in the inner end of the pin engagingboth the spring strips 7 and closing a circuit through the wires 9 and15, battery 10 and primary coil member of the induction coil.Simultaneously with the contact of the pin with the strips 7, the pinarm 5 is brought into contact with the strip 8, with the result that thecircuit is completed by the connections described through the gas pipe20, connecting wire 25, burner body 22, and gas point 23 and the wire24, the connection being ett'ected between said wire 24: and point 23 bya spark or electric flame.

It has been found that it is diflicult to ignite natural gas by theordinary short electric jump-spark and for that reason the dis tancebetween the point 23 and the terminal of the wire 4- is such as toproduce a comparatively long spark or electric flame and it will bereadily understood that the production of such a spark or flame isaccomplished by the connections described, through both the inductioncoil and battery. It will also be understood that while but one gasburner and point of ignition is shown herein, that by extending thewire, the ignition of gas at several burners may be as readilyaccomplished.

here natural gas is commonly used tor heating purposes, it is sometimesextremely ditlicult, owing to the relative positions of the gas key andthe burner to light the gas at the burner and at the same time turn thekey to provide a supply of gas. It obvious that by placing the button 1at a position adjacent or convenient to the gas cutoff, both of thesedevices may be operated at once, if desired, and that by the use of mydevice gas may be instantly ignited on the pressing of the button.

What I claim, is:

1. In a gas heater igniting device, the combination with a button ofnon-conducting material, a spring actuated contact pin working throughsaid button and normally elevated, and a contact arm projectinglaterally from said pin and extending through a slotted opening in saidbutton, oil: a contact strip connected with said button below said slot,and normally separated contact strips below said button and adapted tobe engagcd by said pin, and a wire connected with each of said strips.

2. In a gas heater igniting device, the combination with a button body,comprising a spring actuated contact pin adapted to be projected throughsaid button against the tension of said spring, contact members adaptedto be connected by said pin when said pin is projected, a contact strip,an arm projecting from said pin, a gas burner, a pipe leading thereto,an induction coil, a battery, wires leading from the first named contactmembers respectively through said battery to the terminals of theprimary winding of the induction coil, a connection between one terminalof the secondary winding of the coil and one of the primary windingterminals of said coil, a connection between the remaining secondarywinding terminal and said gas pipe, a wire leading from a point adjacentsaid gas tern'linal. to the contact strip, and a platinum point on saidburner near the terminal of said last mentioned wire.

In testimony whereof I a'l'lix my signature in, presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES C. VAIL.

A. L. PHELPS, L. Cam. S'roUru-rroN.

